Two women open Edible Arrangements store in Spartanburg

Two Asheville, N.C., entrepreneurs want to help Spartanburg residents indulge their snack food cravings guilt-free.Diana King and Sue Rossignol have opened Edible Arrangements in the former Pearle Vision space at Pinewood Shopping Center, just a few doors down from Wade's Restaurant.The store is the second location for the franchise owners, who became part of the Connecticut-based fresh fruit bouquet company's chain when they opened their first shop in Asheville in 2006.“(In the beginning) customers who called would always ask me what flowers they could eat,” King said. “Well, our brand awareness has really grown over the last few years. We made the decision this past August to open a new store in Spartanburg.”The 1,600-square-foot space combines certain elements of a florist shop with those of a candy store.A retail sales area has fruit bouquets, chocolate-dipped fruits and other brightly-colored goods on display. The air is filled with the aroma of melted chocolate, strawberries, pineapple, melon, citrus fruits and other sweet smells.Behind a swinging door, employees skillfully assemble colorful bundles of fresh cut and hand-dipped fruits that will be given as gifts, both individual and corporate.“It's very exciting,” said Rossignol, “The most exciting thing is how well we have been received (by Spartanburg) so far.”King and Rossignol said the enthusiasm that prompted them to open a store in Spartanburg is personified by the woman they hired to manage the store.Tia Hawkins, the daughter of the late local artist Thomas Parham, moved to Virginia a few years ago, where she worked for another Edible Arrangements franchisee for three years. Hawkins recently moved back to Spartanburg to be close to family.A few months ago, she said she was on her way to work, when she saw construction crews hanging the store's sign.“I was in tears for miles,” Hawkins said. “It was mostly because I wanted to bring Edible Arrangements to Spartanburg… But I was happy.”Hawkins said she stopped by the store after work, where she met King. After a brief interview, King hired her on the spot.“We believe that in order to work here, you have to have the ability to put love into what you're doing,” King said. “If you're not in a good place, then you are better off not even trying… That's what sets us apart. We have so much passion for what we do.”The owners opened Tuesday, just in time for Valentine's Day. The store has seven employees so far. King and Rossignol said they will hire more help during seasonal peaks, which encompass all of the gifting holidays.Their products are supplied by a company out of North Carolina that patronizes farmers across the country. King said that partnership ensures their products are always high-quality and in-season.King said they chose the space for several reasons. It's close to the hospital, colleges and downtown. The traffic count on North Pine Street is nearly 30,000 vehicles per day. The owners said the traffic generated by Wade's has also brought customers to their store.“We've been busy so far,” King said. “We've started carrying a lot of grab-and-go items. We want people to try our products. Once they try them, they're hooked.”King said she is a proponent of healthy eating. She regularly visits schools to speak with teachers, administrators and students. The students are usually more interested in eating the fruit arrangements she brings instead of listening to the benefits.Leftovers are made into fruit salads and either sold in the store or donated. The owners said they will soon begin partnering with local charities and food pantries in order to help feed those in need.The store welcomes walk-in customers, online ordering and delivery.It will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.For more information, call 573-0700, or visit: www.ediblearrangements.com.

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